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Desde el corazon del mundo: Pensamientos, anecdotas, y oraciones In the Heart of the World, Spanish-Language Edition
by Mother TeresaThis beautiful gift book of Mother Teresa's writings is a powerful portrait of one of the most beloved women of all time, told in her own words, filled with a fascinating blend of daily life experiences, prayers, and spiritual wisdom. Readers will turn these pages and follow Mother Teresa into the desperate corners of India, Australia, and New York, in her extraordinary and selfless work with the 'poorest of the poor.' They can listen as she offers pearls of spiritual wisdom as relevant today as they were when she first began her ministry 65 years ago. They will contemplate an exemplary life that was driven by the compelling desire to help those less fortunate than herself, often at great personal sacrifice. This small, elegant gift book is divided into three sections: Thoughts, Stories, and Prayers. Throughout these sections, Mother Teresa speaks on compassion, silence, joy, contemplation, generosity, sacrifice, and the spiritual strength that guided this diminutive heroine along the steep and rocky paths she chose to pursue. In the Heart of the World bears indisputable testimony to the influence of someone completely dedicated to a life of love and service.
Stop Being Lonely: Three Simple Steps to Developing Close Friendships and Deep Relationships
by Kira AsatryanLoneliness Has an Antidote: The Feeling of Closeness Loneliness isn’t something that happens only when we are physically alone. It can also happen when we are with people. Online friends, followers, or “likers” don’t necessarily add up to much when you crave fulfilling interaction, and satisfying, long-term relationships are not a mystery to be left up to chance (or technology). The good news is that, according to relationship coach Kira Asatryan, loneliness has a reliable antidote: the feeling of closeness. We can and should cultivate closeness in our relationships using the steps outlined in this book: knowing, caring, and mastering closeness. Whether with romantic partners, friends, family members, or business colleagues, these techniques will help you establish true closeness with others. The simple and straightforward actions Asatryan presents in this wonderfully practical book will guide you toward better relationships and less loneliness in all social contexts.
Outsmarting Overeating: Boost Your Life Skills, End Your Food Problems
by Karen R. KoenigUse Life Skills, Not Willpower, to Stop Overeating The reason you turn to food when you’re stressed or distressed is that you don’t have better ways of managing life’s ups and downs. According to Karen R. Koenig, an expert on the psychology of eating, you can transform your eating habits — and your life — by developing effective life skills. When you have enhanced skills, you won’t need to turn to mindless eating to make it through the day and will get the best out of life rather than letting life get the best of you. With Koenig’s guidance, you’ll learn how to establish and maintain functional relationships, take care of yourself physically and emotionally, think rationally, and create a passionate, joyful, and meaningful life. When these behaviors take root and become automatic, food becomes what it is meant to be: nourishment and one of life’s many pleasures.
Blablablá: (Gibberish Spanish Edition)
by Young VoIt's Dat's first day of school in a new country! Dat and his Mah made a long journey to get here, and Dat doesn't know the language. To Dat, everything everybody says — from the school bus driver to his new classmates — sounds like gibberish. How is Dat going to make new friends if they can't understand each other? Luckily there's a friendly girl in Dat's class who knows that there are other ways to communicate, besides just talking. Could she help make sense of the gibberish?Es el primer día de clase de Dat en un nuevo país. Dat y Ma han hecho una larga travesía para llegar aquí, pero Dat no sabe hablar el idioma. Para Dat, todo lo que dicen todas las personas a su alrededor, desde el conductor del autobús escolar hasta sus nuevos compañeros de clase, suena a blablablá. ¿Cómo hará Dat nuevos amigos sin poder hacerse entender? Por suerte, en la clase de Dat, hay una compañera muy amigable que sabe que no siempre hay que hablar para poder comunicarse. Con su ayuda, ¿podrá Dat entender tanto blablablá
Dawn Raid
by Pauline Vaeluaga SmithImagine this: You're having an amazing family holiday, one where everyone is there and all 18 of you are squeezed into one house. All of sudden it's 4 o'clock in the morning and there's banging and yelling and screaming. The police are in the house pulling people out of bed ...Sofia is like most 12-year-old girls in New Zealand. How is she going to earn enough money for those boots? WHY does she have to give that speech at school? Who is she going to be friends with this year?It comes as a surprise to Sofia and her family when her big brother, Lenny, starts talking about protests, "overstayers", and injustices against Pacific Islanders by the government. Inspired by the Black Panthers in America, a group has formed called the Polynesian Panthers, who encourage immigrant and Indigenous families across New Zealand to stand up for their rights. Soon the whole family becomes involved in the movement.Told through Sofia's diary entries, with illustrations throughout, Dawn Raid is the story of one ordinary girl living in extraordinary times, learning how to stand up and fight.
The Queer Girl is Going to Be Okay
by Dale WallsPublishers Weekly Best of the Year Queer Love. Something Dawn wants, desperately, but does not have. But maybe, if she can capture it, film it, interview the people who have it, queer love will be hers someday. Or, at least, she'll have made a documentary about it. A documentary that, hopefully, will win Dawn a scholarship to film school. Many obstacles stand in the way of completing her film, but her best friends Edie and Georgia are there to help her reach her goal, no matter what it takes. A touching and joyous story of queer friendship and girlhood set in the vibrant city of Houston, THE QUEER GIRL IS GOING TO BE OKAY will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you believe that eventually, everything will be okay.
Dadaji's Paintbrush
by Rashmi SirdeshpandeOnce, in a tiny village in India, there was a young boy who loved to paint. He lived with his grandfather, who taught him to paint with his fingers, to make paints from marigolds and brushes made from jasmine flowers. Sometimes, the village children would watch them painting together, and the boy's grandfather would invite them to join in.They didn't have much, but they had each other.After his grandfather dies, the boy notices a little box wrapped in string with a note that read: "From Dadaji, with love," with his grandfather's best paintbrush tucked away inside. But he feels he will never want to paint again.Will the boy overcome his grief and find joy in painting and his dadaji's memory again?From Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Ruchi Mhasane comes a lushly illustrated tale of love, art, and family.
Pardalita
by Joana EstrelaMILDRED L. BATCHELDER HONOR WINNER School Library Journal Best of the Year BCCB Best of the Year (Blue Ribbon Selection) A beautiful slice-of-life story that is This One Summer meets Ursula K. Le Guin’s Very Far Away from Anywhere Else, told in flashbacks 16-year-old Raquel lives in a small town in Portugal, the kind of place where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Her parents are divorced and she’s just been suspended for cursing out a school aide asking about her father’s new marriage. She has two best friends, Luísa and Fred, but wants something more. Then, from afar, she sees Pardalita, a senior and a gifted artist who’s moving to Lisbon to study in the fall. The two girls get to know each other while working on a play. And Raquel falls in love. Using a gorgeous blend of prose poems, illustrations, and graphic novel format, author and artist Joana Estrela captures the feeling of being a teenager in a way that feels gentle, joyful, and real. P R A I S E ★ "Intimate…Through a fledgling queer romance, the creator presents a story of change, connection, and transformation." —Publishers Weekly (starred) ★ "The elegant simplicity of this book belies the artistic depth and emotional resonance contained within. Will leave readers in quiet, piercing satisfaction." —Booklist (starred) ★ "A leisurely, emotional stroll through a slice-of-life story that explores identity and sexuality in an authentically sweet and subtle way." —School Library Journal (starred) ★ "The writing style is intriguing and deliberate...the slice-of-life approach working perfectly with Estrela’s creative vision in switching up formats to best convey Raquel’s intense and powerful self-discovery…this tender, warm book will likely enchant all romantic fans." —BCCB (starred) "Effectively conveys adolescent turmoil, the heady intoxication of first love, and sweet moments of connection as young queer love blossoms. The book’s strength lies in its careful presentation of telling details. Quietly resonant and sincerely told." —Kirkus Reviews
The Secret Summer Promise
by Keah BrownTHE BSE (Best Summer Ever) LIST!1. Blueberries2. Art show in ShoeHorn3. Lizzo concert4. Thrift shop pop-up5. Skinny Dipping at the lake house6. Amusement Park Day!7. Drew Barrymarathon8. Paintball dayOh, and ….9. Fall out of love with HaileeAndrea Williams has got this. The Best Summer Ever. Two summers ago, she spent all her time in bed, recovering from the latest surgery for her cerebral palsy. She's waited too long for adventure and thrills to enter her life. Together with her crew of ride-or-die friends, and the best parents anyone could ask for (just don't tell them that), she's going to live it up.There's just one thing that could ruin it: Her best friend, Hailee, finding out Andrea's true feelings. So Andrea WILL fall out of love with Hailee – even if it means dating the cute boy George who keeps showing up everywhere with a smile.Do we want Andrea to succeed? No! Does she? We're not telling!Keah Brown is a journalist, screenwriter, and author who has written for places such as Teen Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and the New York Times. She is also the creator of #DisabledAndCute. Now, in her YA debut of nerdy queer love, Keah gives us the perfect summer read and cast of characters to fall in love with.
la tímida Willow
by Cat MinWillow es tímida. Muy tímida.Su hogar está en un buzón abandonado, y prefiere quedarse en casa. Afuera, los niñosgritan y las pelotas de fútbol rebotan, los árboles parecen monstruos, y la lluvia esruidosa en una manera escalofriante. Es mucho más agradable quedarse en casadibujando. Pero entonces un niño echa una carta en el buzón de Willow: es una nota ala luna, en la que le pide un favor especial. Willow sabe que, si ella no se enfrenta almundo exterior, la carta nunca será entregada, y el niño va a ponerse muy triste.¿Debería Willow intentarlo? ¿Acaso lo podrá hacer?Con ilustraciones encantadoras, Cat Min crea un cuento sobre la timidez, el poder de laempatía y la importancia de hacer amigos.
Big Dreams, Small Fish
by Paula CohenSydney Taylor Honor Book In the new country, Shirley and her family all have big dreams. Take the family store: Shirley has great ideas about how to make it more modern! Prettier! More profitable! She even thinks she can sell the one specialty no one seems to want to try: Mama’s homemade gefilte fish. But her parents think she’s too young to help. And anyway they didn’t come to America for their little girl to work. "Go play with the cat!" they urge. This doesn’t stop Shirley’s ideas, of course. And one day, when the rest of the family has to rush out leaving her in the store with sleepy Mrs. Gottlieb…Shirley seizes her chance! P R A I S E "Charming. Paula Cohen tells an all-American tale of the Yiddish diaspora." —The Wall Street Journal "Timeless: an indomitable protagonist and the loving family who dotes on her." —Publishers Weekly "Beautifully illustrated….Shirley is one smart child, a real asset to her striving family. She is full of innovative ideas, which are depicted by Cohen with both humor and respect." —Jewish Book Network "An affectionate ode to family, fish, and creative problem solving." —BookPage
Last Flight
by Kristen Mai GiangA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard On April 24, 1975 the last flight out of Saigon, Vietnam carried over 400 people to the United States, six days before Saigon’s surrender to the North Vietnamese Army. Kristen Giang was a little girl, on that flight with family, and here in this story she shares all the emotions of the decision to flee from the perspective of someone eight years old; Playing a game of space-explorers to protect herself and her sister’s eyes from tear gas; sneaking a stuffed animal into the family’s overstuffed suitcase for comfort. Dow Phumiruk’s tender illustrations let anyone feel the excitement and the ultimate hopefulness of this amazing true story. P R A I S E "Deeply touching… A tender and powerful portrait of a harrowing, historic event." —Booklist "Mai Giang’s sensory-filled prose gently and evocatively communicates a personal wartime story. Phumiruk’s clean, soft illustrations, done in Photoshop and pencil, bring to life a gamut of emotions…A moving and illuminating story of family, war, courage, and newfound home." —Kirkus "Giang’s affecting, powerful recounting of her family’s escape from Saigon in 1975 renders a largely unexplored moment in history intimate and urgent." —BCCB
Frank and the Bad Surprise
by Martha BrockenbroughFrank the cat has it good: Tons of toys, unlimited Whiskies™ and space and quiet to stretch and nap and think and write.Then his people bring home a box. A box with something unexpected inside. A puppy.A puppy who doesn't know the rules of naps. A puppy who slobbers and tackles and barks.This won't do.Frank will just have to find a better home. Should be easy, right?
High Spirits
by Camille Gomera-TavarezHigh Spirits is a collection of eleven interconnected short stories from the Dominican diaspora, from debut author Camille Gomera-Tavarez.It is a book centered on one extended family – the Beléns – across multiple generations.It is set in the fictional small town of Hidalpa – and Santo Domingo and Paterson and San Juan and Washington Heights too.It is told in a style both utterly real and distinctly magical – and its stories explore machismo, mental health, family, and identity.But most of all, High Spirits represents the first book from Camille Gomera-Tavarez, who takes her place as one of the most extraordinary new voices to emerge in years.
Fire From the Sky
by Moa B. ÅstotMICHAEL L. PRINTZ HONOR WINNER KIRKUS BEST OF THE YEAR From 23-year-old Sámi debut novelist and reindeer owner Moa Backe Åstot, Fire From the Sky is a queer coming-of-age story about heritage, family ties and age-old commitments to the past. Ánte’s life has been steeped in Sámi tradition. It is indisputable to him that he, an only child, will keep working with the reindeer. But there is something else too, something tugging at him. His feelings for his best friend Erik have changed, grown into something bigger. Ánte is so aware of Erik and his body in relation to his own; everything he does matters so much. What would people say if they knew? And how does Erik feel? And Erik’s voice just the push of a button away. Ánte couldn’t answer, could he? But how could he ignore it? Fire From the Sky will warm your heart as Ánte experiences the magical, soul-combusting feeling of first love. P R A I S E ★ "Fire from the Sky is a superb account of one boy’s struggle to be himself. Åstot does an exemplary job invoking Sami culture, and an especially good job of capturing Ante’s turbulent emotions, dramatically ratcheting up tension, as it is often agony for Ante to be around the friend he's so in love with. Much of Ante’s experience is universal, and empathic readers will hope urgently for his happiness." —Booklist (starred) ★ "A rare and triumphant look at what it means for queerness to stay put, with all the messiness and pain that entails… A fresh voice and a setting that’s pure fire." —Kirkus Reviews (starred)
The First Day of May
by Henrique Coser MoreiraHere is a book to celebrate firsts. That first magical day of spring, when it seems the whole world is bursting with life. That first time bursting out of your house after being cooped up for SO long. Your first time on the swingset. Your first time seeing a butterfly. Your first time exploring the world with someone you love. From Henrique Coser Moreira comes a wordless ode to joy and discovery that will stir readers young and old. P R A I S E ★ "Pure joy." –BookPage (starred) ★ "All the delights of spring are found within the covers in this charming, wordless picture book." –School Library Journal (starred) ★ "Ivan Brunetti by way of Rowboat Watkins, and readers will sense the opportunities waiting just outside their own doors. A joyous adventure, bright and brimming with exuberance." –Booklist (starred) ★ "This wordless book celebrates—with abundant style—the arrival of spring… playful and exceptionally funny… A breath of fresh air, in more ways than one." –Horn Book (starred) "A quirky and buoyant romp through spring." –Kirkus "Wordless panels mix the whimsical and the mundane in depicting a child’s exuberant outdoor exploits on the titular first of May." –Publishers Weekly
Middletown
by Sarah MoonThirteen-year-old Eli likes baggy clothes, baseball caps, and one girl in particular. Her seventeen-year-old sister Anna is more traditionally feminine; she loves boys and staying out late. They are sisters, and they are also the only family each can count on. Their dad has long been out of the picture, and their mom lives at the mercy of her next drink. When their mom lands herself in enforced rehab, Anna and Eli are left to fend for themselves. With no legal guardian to keep them out of foster care, they take matters into their own hands: Anna masquerades as Aunt Lisa, and together she and Eli hoard whatever money they can find. But their plans begin to unravel as quickly as they were made, and they are always way too close to getting caught.Eli and Anna have each gotten used to telling lies as a means of survival, but as they navigate a world without their mother, they must learn how to accept help, and let other people in.
The Prince and the Coyote
by David BowlesPURA BELPRÉ HONOR WINNER BOOKPAGE TOP 10 BEST BOOK OF 2023 KIRKUS BEST OF THE YEAR Mexico. 1418. Meet Prince Acolmiztli. Puma of the Acolhua People. Heir to his father’s throne. Half Acolhuan, half Mexica. Singer. Warrior. Poet. Sixteen years old. And now, betrayed. A palace plot, placed by the deadly Tepaneca Empire, kills his mother and siblings, puts his father’s army into retreat, and sends Prince Acolmiztli into a treacherous exile. Battling hunger, snow-swept mountains, and the machinations of the city-states all around him, Prince Acolmiztli vows revenge. It will take years, but he will return to seek justice. And he'll do it with a new name: Nezahualcoyotl. Fasting Coyote. One of the most legendary figures in history. From the award-winning David Bowles comes a heart-pounding historical epic that is Gladiator meets the Song of Achilles -- The Count of Monte Cristo set in pre-Columbian Mexico. Illustrated throughout gorgeously by Amanda Mijangos, The Prince & the Coyote brings to life one of Mexico’s most treasured heroes – Nezahualcoyotl – in a story that will thrill readers far and wide. P R A I S E ★ "Riveting…A maelstrom of oscillating joy and tragedy." —Kirkus (starred) ★ "Bowles adeptly crafts a complex, multi-format, and genre-bending novel for teens." —School Library Journal (starred) ★ "Weaving history and fiction together, David Bowles fashions a rich story of political intrigue, ferocious battles, beautiful landscapes and the enduring hope of humanity." —BookPage (starred) "The pre-Columbian world comes brilliantly alive… Striking four-color illustrations by Amanda Mijangos enhance the sense that this is a glimpse into a complex world as it once existed." —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books "Once again, Bowles expertly builds on Nahuatl heritage through the historical life of the sapient Acolmiztli (Nezahualcoyotl)." —Booklist "Sophisticated… Bowles’s immersive prose makes this a mature novel that never shies away from the ferocious realities of war and death." —Publishers Weekly "A stunning historical epic set in pre-Columbian Mexico based on the life of Nezahualcoyotl. Not only are there beautiful illustrations from Amanda Mijangos, but David Bowles incorporates Nezahualcoyotl's surviving poetry into the novel as well. The Prince and the Coyote is a rich and layered story about one of the Americas’ greatest heroes. I was mesmerized from beginning to end!" —Jen Steele, Boswell Book Company
The One Who Loves You the Most
by n/a medinaI have never felt like I belonged to my body. Never in the way rhythm belongs to a song or waves belong to an ocean.It seems like most people figure out where they belong by knowing where they came from. When they look in the mirror, they see their family in their eyes, in their sharp jawlines, in the texture of their hair. When they look at family photos, they see faces of people who look like them. They see faces of people who they'll look like in the future.For me, I only have my imagination.But I'm always trying.Twelve-year-old Gabriela is trying to find their place in the world. In their body, which feels less and less right with each passing day. As an adoptee, in their all-white family. With their mom, whom they love fiercely and do anything they can to help with her depression. And at school, where they search for friends.A new year will bring a school project, trans and queer friends, and a YouTube channel that help Gabriela find purpose in their journey. From debut author medina comes a beautifully told story of finding oneself and one's community, at last.
Bigger Than a Dream
by Jef AertsPeople fear death. We don't know how to talk about it, especially to children, and we're afraid to bring it up for fear of making people sadder.Yet children, especially, have questions, and this incredibly gentle and surprisingly light story is full of both comfort and vividly imagined "answers." The first one gives the book its title: A boy hears the voice of his sister calling him one day, a sister he's never met because she died before he was born. The sister in the faded photograph on the wall. So that night he asks his mother what death is like and she tells him, "It's like dreaming, only bigger."That's lovely, but he still has questions, which it turns out his sister can answer! On a dreamy, carefree adventure they ride their bikes together, (not always on the ground), visiting places that were special to her when she was alive. And she talks to him in the older sister, teasing, straightforward, loving way that is exactly what he needs. (It turns out that death is not the only thing that can be Bigger Than a Dream.)Much, much more than bibliotherapy, this is a work of art that speaks with honesty and tenderness about one of life's great mysteries.
Something Great
by Jeanette BradleyVoila! Quinn spent the morning in their workshop, and they emerged with Something Great! But… What is it?No one seemed to understand that Something Great isn't supposed to be anything. It was just… itself. Something Great.Then, the new kid asks to play with Quinn and Something Great. They discover that Something Great can be an elevator, a bug catcher, or a stick lifter. It could even be… a friend finder.Quietly profound, this sweet tale and its mixed-media illustrations are a delightful combination of elements blending STEM activities (for those inclined to catch them!) with casual nonconformity in a picture book that is, well, Something Great!
Salsa Magic
by Letisha MarreroBEST OF THE YEAR: Chicago Public Library - Kirkus A magical debut middle-grade novel filled with loud but loving family members, santería, and powerful orishas, set in New York City. Thirteen-year-old Maya Beatriz Montenegro Calderon has vivid recurring dreams where she hears the ocean calling her. Mami’s side of the family is known as "Los Locos," so maybe she actually is going crazy. But no time for that; the family business is where it’s at. Whenever Maya, her sister Salma, and her three cousins, Ini, Mini, and Mo, aren’t at school, you can usually find three generations of Calderones at Café Taza, serving up sandwiches de pernil, mofongo, and the best cafés con leche in all of Brooklyn. One day, an unexpected visit from the estranged Titi Yaya from Puerto Rico changes everything. Because Yaya practices santería, Abuela tells Maya and the other Calderon children to stay away from her. But If la viejita is indeed estranged from the family, why does Maya feel so connected to this woman she has never met before? And who is this orisha named Yemaya? On top of figuring all this out, Maya has a budding soccer career to consider, while fending off the local bully, and dealing with nascent feelings toward her teammate. But through it all, there’s that alluring connection to a forbidden ancient practice—filled with a pantheon of Yoruban gods and goddesses—that keeps tugging at her, offering her a new perspective in life, tying her past to her present and future. Which path will Maya choose to fulfill her destiny? P R A I S E ★ "Beguiling… Maya’s lively voice dazzles amid a standout cast that includes her lovably unruly cousins as well as memorable neighbors and classmates of varied Black and Latine heritages. In this evocative multigenerational tale, Marrero cultivates a rich N.Y.C. setting that feels like a character in itself, bursting with even richer depictions of cultural traditions." —Publishers Weekly (starred) ★ "An expertly written exploration of an Afro-Latine family’s history and the pantheon of West African gods. Marrero’s debut beautifully weaves together themes of family trauma, first crushes, spirituality, and history as Maya embarks on her journey of self-discovery. An uplifting, beautifully rendered story of family bonds and embracing the unknown." —Kirkus (starred) ★ "In this novel steeped in family lore and West African Yoruba beliefs, Maya navigates old ideas and thirsts for new knowledge as she discovers how she fits into her vibrant family and the world beyond. Maya’s first-person narrative… is endearing and relatable, and peppered with Spanish. Readers are transported to the streets of Brooklyn and treated to the sights, sounds, and smells of life in the restaurant. Characters are as diverse as the streets of New York." —School Library Journal (starred) "Richly textured… Marrero, who is of Puerto Rican and Black Dominican descent, does a wonderful job of weaving the spiritual into corporeal affairs like soccer matches, clumsy flirting and sibling rivalry. But it’s Maya who ultimately steals the show." —Matt de la Peña for the New York Times Book Review "A spirited debut about finding oneself, familial love, and forgiveness." —Booklist
Tilted Sky
by Yao EmeiIs it too much to ask for an ordinary, boring life? Bai Jian is a typical Chinese boy growing up in a big city. But his life is far from typical: his mother abandoned him when he was a baby, and his father, Hei Jian, is always out of work, always fighting with his long parade of girlfriends, always getting the two of them involved in some harebrained scheme. The latest idea involves spending every last dime they have putting Bai Jian up in a posh boarding school so that Hei Jian can leave, and pursue his dream of becoming a big-time movie director. All Bai Jian has ever wanted is a warm bed to sleep in, a safe place to return to at the end of the day, enough food to fill his belly…and a family who’s not just going to abandon him on a whim. He soon realizes: while he may not have been born into this sort of family, maybe he can find one out there in the world himself? From author Yao Emei and translator Kelly Zhang comes a heart-rending, emotional middle grade novel about a contemporary boy in China searching for a home – and whose resourcefulness and generous heart carry him through. Readers who fell in love with Because of Winn-Dixie and Ghost will discover an inimitable voice in Bai Jian that will stay with them forever. P R A I S E "Intimate and introspective." –Kirkus "Readers attracted to international novels in translation or stories about resilient, precocious teens who don’t get into too much trouble will find lots to like here." –Booklist
What the Jaguar Told Her
by Alexandra V. MéndezJade is starting eighth grade in a new city—Atlanta. She just wants to go back to Chicago, where her friends are. Where her Abuela lives. But Jade does like walking to her new school on the trail that winds through the woods behind her house, where lush flowers bloom and soft leaves rustle beneath her feet. In the forest, Jade feels protected. Sometimes, it's as if it's listening to her. There, Jade meets Itztli, an elderly storyteller who exists between dreams and reality. In the golden afternoons when Itztli appears, he steps out of the forest as a lithe, agile jaguar. But when he speaks to Jade, he is a wise old man who makes intricate works of art and tells her ancestral stories of Mexico. At first, Itztli's stories feel far removed from Jade's life. But as her Abuela suddenly falls ill, two towers come crashing down in New York City, and Jade becomes someone or something she doesn't yet understand, Itztli's stories take on new meaning. Jade must learn to have patience and strength to become who she was always meant to be, as the stirrings of an ancient power awaken within her. What the Jaguar Told Her is a lyrical debut about growing up in the midst of change, and a magical cultural homecoming.
Ways to Play
by Lyn Miller-LachmannRiley has plenty of ways to play; like lining up dolls and stuffies by size and shape. Tearing up newspapers and making piles into mountains, using sharp crayons to draw big swirly patterns. But bossy cousin Emma thinks those ways are wrong, wrong, and wrong. And she makes no bones about letting Riley know exactly what her opinion is. Fortunately, Charlie the dog is on hand to help with a breakthrough demonstration that there are MANY ways to play; and all of them are right. Based on experiences that Lyn Miller Lachman had growing up as an Autistic child and illustrated with the humor, tenderness and understanding that perhaps only an artist like Gabriel Alborozo, himself an Autistic creator, could bring, here is an empowering validation of the value of individual expression. And a whole lot of fun.